When Kristian Storli, the owner of a vintage scooter repair and restoration shop near Van Nuys Boulevard and Aetna Street, heard about a proposed major transit project in the eastern San Fernando Valley, he printed a “No to option A” sign and posted it on a front door.

“If I need to move, I don’t have another option but move out of city or out of state,” he said. “My business is not going to survive another move.”

Storli, who runs Bar Italia Classics, is among a group of business owners in the San Fernando Valley area who are beefing up their efforts in their fight against the project, which has them contemplating the possible relocation of their businesses, some of which operated in the area for several decades.

The struggle underscores the difficulties some firms face as Metro proposes to build the 9.2-mile East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor project that would link the Metro Orange Line in Van Nuys to the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station through Van Nuys Boulevard.

Metro is considering several options for the project, including a light rail train, a bus rapid transit service and streetcar.

Critics say one of the rail options, proposed Option A, which includes construction of a maintenance yard and storage facility that would be built south of the Metro Orange Line and west of Van Nuys Boulevard, could potentially force nearly 180 businesses to relocate.

RESISTANCE TO THE METRO RAIL PLAN INTENSIFIES
Metro is proposing to build the 9.2-mile East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor project, which would link the Metro Orange Line in Van Nuys to the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station through Van Nuys Boulevard. Several Van Nuys Boulevard merchants were already fuming about the proposal, which they say would displace many of them, if the plan’s Option A were chosen. They have voiced their concerns at recent public hearings, and now businesses are taking more active measures to voice their displeasure.

Paul Penzella — SCNG

In recent months, business owners have expressed their concerns during public meetings held by Metro, as the agency laid out its plans. Now, with no meetings scheduled in the near future, and a decision pending, the business owners are getting creative in promoting their message.

A big yellow sign on Aetna Street, just off of Van Nuys Boulevard, reads “No to Option A. Your tax dollars at work should not mean to tear our businesses down.”

“This place is the foundation of my business, and I don’t want to lose it. I am going to lose my clients if I move.”

— Simon Simonian, Van Nuys business owner

The area is mostly auto shops, repair stores and cleaning services. But the issue has brought businesses together. On Friday, owners plan to meet with Los Angeles Councilwoman Nury Martinez — whose district includes Van Nuys and Panorama City — to discuss their efforts and options for Metro’s plan.

Peter Scholz, the owner of Showcase Inc., recently teamed up with other business owners to post signs opposing the Option A proposal near his shop along Aetna Street.

He said the project will force his 30-year business to relocate. A few weeks ago, Scholz painted a mural on a wall of his shop featuring excavators demolishing buildings along Aetna Street. A sign on the mural reads, “No to option A.”

“I wanted to do something grand and draw attention,” he said, adding that a few weeks ago he launched a website, abcia.org, with a petition, which has gathered more than 1,500 signatures, calling for halting of the Option A.

Simon Simonian, the owner of Progressive Art Stained Glass Studio in Van Nuys, said he doesn’t understand why anyone would want to disrupt a business.

“It’s a community of small businesses,” he said. “Everyone knows each other. I don’t know why they are trying to destroy this community.”

He said his clients find it convenient to visit him at his current location, based near two freeways.

“I am located near the 101 and 405 Freeways and my clients come here all the time,” he said. “This place is the foundation of my business, and I don’t want to lose it. I am going to lose my clients if I move.”

The owners’ efforts are getting some attention, and building some support.

Martinez, for instance, says she’s listening.

“Business and property owners in the area of the proposed Option A site are also committed to economic investment in the area and creating jobs,” she said in an emailed statement. “We must also consider how local businesses would be affected by a new maintenance facility and do our best to minimize impacts.”

Jason Ackerman, a board member on the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council, said he supports the business owners’ efforts.

“They organized in such a way that they were able to change the winds of the project,” he said. “The councilwoman came forward as a result of their efforts. I totally support them.”

Tony Wilkinson, land use committee chairman of the Panorama City Neighborhood Council, said the Van Nuys business owners were successful in making their voices heard.

“We are behind those guys and their interests,” he said. “Now, you have to get the appointed representatives like Nury Martinez to say that we don’t want let Metro to take over the area A. Now, they have a chance to influence politics.”

Metro will make a decision on the plan early next year, according to its spokeswoman Kim Upton.

“Nothing has been decided yet,” she said. “But we have been hearing from the community, and we’re taking what they say very seriously. A decision will be made based on community input and the best use of public dollars.”

Olga Grigoryants is a multimedia reporter focusing on urban development, business and culture. She also supports the paper in its watchdog role to hold San Fernando Valley power players accountable and loves digging for public records. After studying writing in Moscow, she moved to Los Angeles in 2007 and has called it home ever since. She earned her master’s degree from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and has published articles with Reuters, Bloomberg, the Los Angeles Business Journal and LA Weekly. Along the way, she picked up awards from the Los Angeles Press Club and Society of Professional Journalists. If you want to get on her bright side, she loves a perfect cup of matcha latte.